By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis – US Congressman Roy Blunt has widened his fundraising advantage over Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan in the race to replace retiring US Senator Kit Bond.
Blunt and Carnahan are the likely Republican and Democratic nominees for the November general election. Blunt faces a primary challenge from state Senator Chuck Purgason, whose represents a district in mid-southeast Missouri.
New campaign reports show Bond took in $1.3 million in the last three months of 2009, with about $3 million in the bank. In that same quarter, Carnahan brought in $877,000, and starts 2010 with about $2.1 million.
A poll released in late January shows Blunt with a six point lead over Carnahan, which falls outside the poll's margin of error. Earlier polls showed Carnahan with a slim lead.